GreatCall builds on Lively name

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – When GreatCall acquired Lively’s assets in 2015, the stage was set for the company to expand its product lineup for older adults and their caregivers.

The company did just that recently, launching the Lively urgent response device.

GreatCall developed the device prior to its acquisition of Lively, but it decided to use the Lively name because it’s evocative of how the company wants to be perceived, says Dean Williams, GreatCall’s head of technology.

“When we acquired the company’s assets, we acquired the ‘Lively’ name, as well,” he said. “ We thought the Lively name expressed a key GreatCall mission—independence and active aging.”

The Lively replaces the GreatCall Splash, the company’s previous PERS device. It can be worn on the wrist or around the neck, and it’s waterproof, making it OK to use in the shower. When activated, the device connects to GreatCall’s 5Star cellular service and a team of trained agents who stay connected until an incident is resolved. It is also equipped with automatic fall detection.

Williams said GreatCall’s immediate plans are to continue to offer Lively Home, an in-home remote monitoring product; and Lively Wearable, a fitness tracker with an urgent response service designed to work with the Lively app running on a consumer’s smart phone.

While GreatCall will continue to use the Lively name, Williams said longer-range product plans are still being developed. Lively founders Iggy Fanlo, David Glickman and Keith Dutton do not have active roles at GreatCall.